BLUEBERRY FIELDS FOREVER…
{Scarf – Christmas Gift and Hand Crocheted by my niece Alyse
Dark Wash Skinnies Laura Petites, thrifted
Navy Blue Wool Coat London Fog, thrifted
Green Suede Shoes Hush Puppies, thrifted
Blue Hat Toucan Collection, thrifted}
Good Monday morning my dear friends. This, the final Monday in 2013, seems the perfect moment to say a heartfelt thank you! Thank you for your readership, your thoughtful comments, and your encouraging emails. Throughout the year, you have showered me with the kindest of words, and I am ever so grateful for your friendship!
Curious about the creative tick-tock in my head? The blue nail polish I’m wearing reminds me of blueberries. That, and the hat. The hat feels a bit like a giant blueberry on my head. So, blue polish, blue hat, blueberries…and voila, I’m to be found standing in a blueberry field at the onset of winter. The rich farmland around Vancouver is home to many commercial blueberry farms. One could ponder how many is too many….I eat blueberries several times a week, but do you? In winter with their branches bare, blueberry bushes blush pink in the low winter sun. I think it’s a beautiful sight; the shrubs, precisely aligned row upon row, like a small colourful army, stoic in the cold.
{One of the above photos has been colour enhanced, I daresay I need not point out which one. Having said that, there truly are moments when the fields are radiantly pink!}
And there you have it…me standing in a blueberry field, wearing blue accented with a pop of lime green. We are blessed with a relatively mild climate here on the west coast of Canada, and my London Fog coat provides warmth enough from the chill in the air. It’s my most recent thrifted purchase, and along with it comes the debate on whether to shorten the sleeves or not. Not the easiest of alterations to do well, but I can see that to do so would be a big improvement on the silhouette. I can’t say for sure that this is my favourite coat…my light as air, white down puffy jacket may get more love and more wear…but there are definitely occasions when a timeless wool coat just feels right; that and I love the buttons!
Linking up with:
Jill of Everything Just So for How I Wear My Coat
Judith of Style Crone for Hat Attack. Judith, more than any other link-up, it’s been your party that has taken me beyond my comfort zone. I always perceived hats as beautiful accessories for others, not for myself. My previous held belief, that hats were merely functional at their best and outwardly antagonistic towards my curls at their worst, has been radically shifted. Thank you so much for inspiring me to step out, and step up, to hats! It’s been so much fun adding hats to my outfits!
Patti of Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday. It’s the last link up of the year, and a very big thank you to you Patti, for providing such an interactive platform for women of my age. Readers, please do go and check it out.
Shana of ColorBlind for Thrifters Anonymous. Shana, thanks for sharing your love of the hunt, and for generously providing a linky party so we can play too!
54 Comments
OOh, I love the blue, Sue, bery (typo but I left it there as I thought it matched the theme, corny I know) pretty on you! I once thrifted a London Fog jacket but gave it to my Mom when I left Canada. It fit her perfectly. I find that living in a cooler climate fuels my addiction for, and makes it easy to justify, my extensive coat collection! We see blueberries here in the summer, not so much now. I miss them. Happy New Year! xo
Hi Sue!
Finally a new post! you know i wait for your posts! I live for your posts, hahaha!
Lovely blue coat and i like the green scarf, you are an artist to mix such exquisite colors together-
Living in the artic, i won't say cooler climate like Kelly, i love to have many coats but it's not extensive, not like the rest of my wardrobe, that, is extensive!
Blueberries adore them, i eat them often, they are good for you – Our best blueberries are from Lac St-Jean, but mine usually are from Mexico –
Have a great New Year Sue!
See you soon
Hugs
Arianexo
You look very dapper. I really like how you popped the green in your sweater and shoes with the blue coat. My hubby and I make a good blueberry bread, what a joy blueberries. Happy New Year to you!
Sue, your posts always put a huge smile on my face. The blue looks gorgeous with your complexion, hair and eye color. And when I saw the hush puppies I wanted to scream. I just did a search for colored hush puppies on eBay and I'm considering lavender. Happy New Year shopping buddy!
Dear Sue,
It's fine to see you again end of the year! Now I see blueberry fields for the first time. I know strawberry fields and raspberry bushes, blueberries do not grow in my part of the world. Sue it is always amazing to have a look on the other side of our big blue planet and so it is a great pleasure for me to see you in your country. And to see you always dressed so marvellous and extraordinary.
Happy New Year Sue and thank you for being a blogging friend.
Sabine xxx
I had greek yogurt and blueberries with chopped almonds for breakfast yesterday! I really like the blue with the lime green. And not sure about the sleeves. They do move up when you are driving etc., and the longer sleeve length is in, but you must do what feels comfortable for you. You look very happy in those blueberry fields. Oh, yes, and I do like your hat too.
Shirl
Lovely look Sue! I love the blue and green combo, it looks great on you 🙂 its good to have you back 🙂 hugs, Beata xxx
I guess I'm the only person in the world that doesn't care much for blueberries. And I used to live in Richmond, surrounded by blueberry fields. Raspberries, however, are a different story – I can eat a ton of those babies.
Navy & green is one of my favourite colour combinations. Well, navy & anything, really.
I love the hand made scarf, and those are the cutest shoes ever!
I love the name blueberry for your hat and coat – and awesome shoes. Looks like paradise where you live! Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xoxo
Oh wonderful blueberries. I love this outfit with the smidges of happy green. Uplifting.
Thanks back to you too, Sue, for sharing your awesome talents and thoughts with us. Happy New Year!
This color of blue is gorgeous on you Sue….love the green scarf as well! You look so joyful and fun! I hope you have a very Happy New Year!
AZUL!!!!! I am nothing without blue, seriously Sue. We both are in the blue mood today and of course you look more than fantastic with your gorgeous oversized coat and matching hat. We can't help it Sue, we just love color too much 😉
xo
Carelia
“Blue Pumps” new post on:
Mysmallwardrobe.com
I love it, love it, love it!
Green is my favorite color and it just pops against all this blue. I'm off to see if I can find shoes similar to these and the scarf is a great Christmas gift!
Looking lovely in your blue – I love the pop of the lime shoes!
I feel the fresh breeze when I look at these pictures! Great color combination. I didn't know what a blueberry field even looks like, I eat them just about every day. I love, love how you are getting out there in many different locations, so inspiring. We 40+ bloggers can strut of stuff just like the younger gals! You look fab Sue.
blue hue wonderland
Oooo you look delicious! That green scarf and shoes set the blues off perfectly….now I need to go make oatmeal with blueberries.
Love the coat, it looks nice and warm, great find! I would have never thought about blueberries where you are at, those are neat photos. Unfortunately they are one of the few fruits I am allergic to 🙁
Beautiful look. Happy new year!
Terrific combination: radiant blue with radiant lime. Love this. It would do me fine too. And yes, I am afraid that doing the work on the sleeves will improve the already gorgeous coat. I am still pleased I had it done to my purple coat. Taken up at the top of the sleeves. Not by me but by the shop seamstress (so pleased with that).
I hope 2014 will be a splendid year for you my dear.
Greetje
Sue, I love this look. Blue combined with green scarf and shoes is perfect. Love the coat pattern. The hat is fun and chic.
You are so beautiful in blue … of course, I get the lime accents! You are, without any doubt, one of the world's coolest, gentlest, sweetest and most talented women. Under-acknowledged, you are. I'm so enjoying the road your talents have taken this year … you are also my hero that way!
Happy, Happy New Year, darling Sue! Can't wait to see what you do in 2014!
bery funny! The downside of lots of coats is the requirement for lots of storage space.
Haha….my Canadian friends have the funny bones. xo Can't believe the blueberries are imported from Mexico? And, I've tasted those Quebec blueberries…tiny, but exquisite.
I've never made a blueberry bread, now will have to mix one up. I do put them in scones.
Gak!!! Lavender hush puppies sound so you, so me, so us!
Thanks Sabine! I feel the same when I visit your blog. It's like visiting the best of Germany. Happy New Year my blogging friend.
Oh Yum! I buy the non-fat greek yogourt sometimes, and we always have the full fat greek yogourt in the fridge.
Thanks Beata! Hugs back to you!
Huh? Just kidding…I do understand that not all would love blueberries. They're actually a pretty low flavour profile a lot of the time. I'm the same with raspberries. We have a bush in the back garden, and I look for every excuse to pass by the bush when the berries are in season. They never make it indoors..
Thanks Patti…yep…paradise comes in many forms, including your beautiful beaches.
Happy New Year Melanie! Always an inspiration, you are!!! See you in 2014.
Aw, thanks Pam, and a very Happy New Year to you too.
….yep….peas in a pod when it comes to colour…loving your blue shoes!
The scarf was indeed a great gift! Made with love!
Happy New Year to you too, my dear friend. You look great with your outfit today, so warm. I want to continue to enjoy many years of your inspiration. Kisses.
Thanks Sheila…you are the connoisseur of shoes…so thanks for noticing mine.
Thanks so much Ann!
Totally love blueberries in my oatmeal. I put them in just at the end so I don't end up with pink oatmeal…not that that's a bad thing….Hmmmm, very type one in fact.
Vancouver sits at the mouth of The Fraser River. Consequently there is lots of boggy, rich soil and blueberries love the conditions.
Happy New Year Josep!
Yep…that's the right way to do the alteration of the sleeve. And the thing is, I know how to do it, and I know I can do it well, but….sigh…it'll be a task.
Thanks Josep, and thanks for the pin!
Thanks Jan. You are always so generous with your comments! Every blogger hopes for a Jan comment you know! The happiest of New Years to you too!
Thanks dear Rosy! It was such a gift meeting you, and being inspired by your sewing talent! See you in 2014.
A great combo of colors, Sue. Love the hat. HNY!! 🙂
I love those lime green shoes!! And the coat and hat make you look so cozy!
Loving this outfit- and wishing you a fabulous New Year! Looking forward to following you and seeing what you do next:)
You always look so cheeky – I love it. The blue/green combo is divine. That and the blushing pink of the blueberry bushes make this a fabulous colour cacophony. Happy New Year and keep being you – it's fabulous!!
Such lovely colours – on you, and as a backdrop! Love the blue and green combination, Sue, and wishing you a very happy new year. xxxx
Blueberries for Sue and how beautiful and fitting. Yes, I too, eat blueberries several times a week, in fact almost daily with my morning cereal. I just don't get the added pleasure of walking among their fields, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing these wonderful photo's. Absolutely perfect background and setting, sure wish I could join you there. Blue berry (blue) is very striking on you, Sue and what a great way to end the statement with those funky fun green suede shoes. Oh, and I'm adoring the blue nail polish. My heartfelt thanks goes out to you also for your readership this past year, it has been a joy getting to know you.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sue. You wear hats beautifully and I am grateful that you shared your blueberry chapeau with Hat Attack. You are very creative and talented, and I am honored that you have taken the time and effort to get to know headwear and its benefits.
Happy 2014! Looking forward to following you throughout the new year.
I love eating blueberries! I sometimes add some yoghurt …(love both to tell all the truth!)and I also love your blueberries post! Nice idea to wear the colour in many shades!
I think that the fields are wonderful ! So bright… ( I had never seen them before! )
Have a joyful 2014!
You look great in that hat! I can't believe you haven't had success with hats all your life, but maybe it just takes the right hat to work its magic.
I love the blue and lime green combination. It's a mix that I usually associate with summer, but it looks good here, too, with a warm coat. Good luck altering the sleeves, but you're such a sewing whiz I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job!
Also, I appreciated your comment about hoping my mother-in-law could “rest easy.” I think that's the perfect phrase right now.
You do look dazzling in that color combo, especially in the blueberry field. Never saw one before, being the city girl that I am. I've been checking out Hush Puppies lately. Seems they have some great colors and very unusual styles from what one might expect. Kudos to your hat-raising consciousness with Judith. Your blueberry hat looks delish on you.